The World's Angriest Volcanoes Revealed

5. Mount Vesuvius, Italy

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Mount Vesuvius, a famous stratovolcano in southern Italy, is evidence of the great influence nature has on human history and its unvarnished strength. Nestled close to the energetic city of Naples and the gorgeous Bay of Naples, Vesuvius is most famously known for its devastating eruption in 79 AD that buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of ash and pumace. For millennia people have been enthralled with this event, which Pliny the Younger reported and offers an unmatched glimpse into Roman Empire society. Mount Vesuvius's 79 AD eruption was a cataclysmic occurrence of shockingly vast scale. Demonstrating the great force locked inside the Earth's crust, it is thought to have emitted 100,000 times the thermal energy of the atomic bomb fired on Hiroshima in 1945. Rising to almost 20 miles (32 km), the eruption spewed a towering plume of ash and volcanic gases into the atmosphere. At rates of excess to 450 mph (724km/h), this enormous column finally collapsed and sent pyroclastic flows, fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic materials down the volcano's slopes. Along with the heavy layers of ash and pumice, these floods buried Pompeii, Herculaneum, many other towns, therefore preserving them in a time capsule sealed for about 1700 years. The preservation of Pompeii and Herculaneum has given archaeologists a hitherto unheard-of window into Roman society. Acting as a natural preservative, the ash buried ancient cities helped to guard structures, relics, even human remains from decomposition. When excavations started in the 18th century, they uncovered mostly intact streets, homes, and public buildings with paintings, mosaics, and commonplace goods trapped in time. Most poignantly, the catastrophe left behind disturbing body castings of its victims, created when the ash hardened over their bodies and faithfully captured their last moments. Mount Vesuvius has a lengthy history of volcanic activity, even although the most well-known eruption is that of 79 AD. Because of its explosive eruption pattern and highly inhabited surroundings, this volcano is regarded as among the most dangerous in the world. Since 79 AD, the volcano has erupted numerous times; notable episodes occurred in 472, 512, 1631, and more lately in 1906 and 1944. Particularly strong, the 1906 eruption seriously damaged surrounding cities and claimed hundreds of lives. During World War II, the most recent eruption in 1944 devastated an American bomber squadron as well as many villages. Mount Vesuvius and its environs today are a national park that draws millions of tourists year to wonder at the volcano and investigate the archaeological monuments it produced. But the constant threat the volcano presents tempers the region's beauty and historical importance. With about 3 million people living inside its possible impact zone, the area around Vesuvius is today the most densely populated volcanic region in the world. For catastrophe management and emergency planning, this offers major difficulties.